New job announcements are posted on the county's Current Job Openings page, which is updated each Saturday.

Jobs are usually advertised for one or two weeks.

Check each announcement for the closing date. Applications must be submitted prior to 11:59 p.m. EST on the closing date.

Additionally, you can create Job Alerts to receive email notices about new jobs in your specific field(s) of interest.

Interested jobseekers submit an application online at our jobs site, which is powered by GovernmentJobs.com.

On their first visit, jobseekers create an account with a User ID and password, then create a profile manually, or by uploading a resume that is then parsed into the account.

After this has been completed, jobseekers can click on the Apply tab for the job they are interested in. Next they will complete a series of steps, which may include answering questions, etc. The number and type of steps are determined by the employer who is hiring for the job. They will also have an opportunity to upload relevant or requested attachments. When the steps are completed, on the Certify & Submit page, they will click on Accept and Submit to submit their application.

Please note that as part of the application process, you must do all of the following:

1. Respond to all questions on the supplemental questionnaire, and
2. Fully complete all sections of the application and understand that all answers to supplemental questions must be substantiated in your application.

You will receive an email stating your application has been received. You can then follow the status of jobs you've applied for by checking Application Status in your account.

For more information please see the below video:

After the job announcement has closed, applications and supplemental information are reviewed by a DHR Employment Division analyst and agency hiring supervisor. Applications are reviewed against the job's qualifications and requirements—based on the information in the job announcement—to find the applicants that are the closest match.

To remain in consideration for the job, applicants' submissions must clearly demonstrate that they meet...

• All the Minimum Qualifications (education, training and experience)
• All the Special Requirements (e.g. certificates and licenses, physical requirements, etc.)
• As many Preferred Qualifications as possible

This step takes 10 business days to complete.

Unless otherwise specified in the job announcement, when considering an applicant’s qualifications and whether they meet those specified in the job announcement, education and experience equivalencies will apply.

Working from the applications that have passed the first part of the review process (Step 3), DHR creates a 'Referred List' of the top applications to go forward in the process.

The Referred List usually includes 10 to 15 applications. In some cases that number may be slightly higher or lower. This list typically includes 10 to 15 applicants, who are forwarded to the hiring manager for consideration.

Even if you meet the qualifications, you may not be referred because of the number and competitiveness of applications received. It's normal for applicant pools at Fairfax County to include hundreds of well-qualified applicants, and only the top applicants will advance in the process. 

If you are placed on the Referred List, the hiring department will notify you of the status of your application at this step. One of the following will occur: you will be selected for an interview, or the agency will notify you at the conclusion of the selection process (6-8 weeks) via email or letter that you have not been selected for an interview.

The hiring department decides which applicants from the Referred List will be interviewed. Not every applicant will be interviewed; however, no less than 'half plus one' of the Referred List applicants will be interviewed. For example, if the list includes ten people, six (or more) will be interviewed.

Interviews are usually conducted by a panel of three or more people.

Some interview processes also include a job-related exercise, written test, oral exam, performance test and/or assessment center.

Reference checks will be completed prior to initiating a job offer.

An offer of employment is made to the applicant who was determined to be the best match for the position.

All interviewed applicants who did not get a job offer are notified—by email or letter—of the final outcome of the selection process.

Prior to starting work, a background check will be made on most applicants offered employment. It may include checks of:

• criminal background record (initiated by fingerprinting)
• Office of Inspector General screening
• Child Protective Services screening
• driving record
• credit history (for financial positions)
• education
• professional licenses
• medical examination (if indicated in the job announcement, an applicant must satisfactorily meet required medical standards for the job in a medical examination conducted by county-designated medical staff)